KING CENTER AND ATLANTA COALITION TO COMMEMORATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF MLK DREAM

7/25/2013

Atlanta . . . On August 17th from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m.,The King Center, in cooperation with the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta Public Schools, the City of Atlanta, Operation Hope and others, will present the Atlanta Global Freedom Exposition to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech.

“As America prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and my father’s “I Have a Dream” speech, we feel it is important that his hometown create a very special celebration of this historic milestone,” said King Center CEO Bernice A. King in announcing The Atlanta Global Freedom Exposition. MLK National Historic Site Superintendent Judy Forte joined Ms. King in inviting the public to attend the free-of-charge program: “This Exposition offers all Atlantans a unique, family-friendly opportunity to participate in honoring Dr. King’s great dream for our nation and world in the community where he was nurtured,” explained Superintendent Forte.

The Expo will feature social, financial and religious organizations which have made an impact on society in ways that can be emulated throughout the world to help fulfill Dr. King’s dream. The Expo will leverage communications resources, which were unavailable in Dr. King’s time, to connect people all over the world to learn, share and advocate for freedom.

The program, which will be held at locations in the MLK National Historic Site, will feature story-telling and other children’s activities, tours, musical performances, oral history recording, fitness activities, health and wellness education. There will also be film presentations, an educational expo depicting various groups’ contributions toward fulfilling Dr. King’s dream, an ethnic food ‘court’ and an evening “candlelight flotilla” in the reflecting pool surrounding the crypt of Dr. and Mrs. King.

Ms. King said that, because many Atlantans will be traveling to Washington, D.C. for the August 24th-28th national celebration of the 50th anniversary at the Lincoln Memorial, the coalition decided to hold the Atlanta program on August 17th. She explained that the commemorative program will promote the 50th anniversary national themes “Freedom to Prosper in Life,” Freedom to peacefully Co-Exist” and “Freedom to Participate in Government.” The national overall theme is “Our World, His Dream: Freedom - Make It Happen.”

For more information, please contact Ms. Barbara Harrison at (404) 526-8961 or via email at bharrison@thekingcenter.org and/or Mr. Robert Parker at (404) 331-6922, ext. 2625, or via internet at Robert_Parker@nps.gov. Please watch this space for updates.